Speeches at CPAC (2020s): on Free Trade


Bill Hagerty: Biden making us dependent on China for solar & wind

He described the things that have come from the Biden administration with China as well, including "killing the Keystone XL pipeline, stopping all drilling here in America, making us dependent on solar panels from China, on wind turbines from China--China's laughing all the way to the bank."
Source: Newsweek magazine on 2021 CPAC Conference Jul 10, 2021

Donald Trump: Trumpism means great trade deals

Many people have asked, "What is Trumpism?" A new term being used more and more. I'm hearing that term more and more. I didn't come up with it. But what it means is great deals, great trade deals. Great ones, not deals where we give away everything, our jobs, our money, like the USMCA replacement of the horrible NAFTA. NAFTA was one of the worst deals ever made, probably the worst trade deal ever made, and we ended it. A lot of people forget, we ended it.
Source: Remarks by Pres. Trump at the 2021 CPAC Conference Feb 28, 2021

Mike Pence: China's on notice that the era of economic surrender is over

From day one, this president has fought for free and fair trade. After more than 30 years of trade policy that seemed to be more about just managing economic decline, the U.S.M.C.A. and the phase one China deal marked the beginning of a new era of international trade that puts American jobs and American workers first. The president put China on notice that the era of economic surrender is over. We will continue to stand strong until China opens their markets.
Source: Remarks by V.P. Pence at the 2020 CPAC Conference Feb 27, 2020

Bill Haggerty: We have to make in America what is now being made in China

I went to the launch of the new Cadillac, which is made in Springhill, Tennessee and I looked out in the field. there are cars just lined up in the field, waiting for a chip or waiting for a piece that unfortunately had to pipe its way through China and the supply chain. American companies are waking up right now and I applaud that. We have to bring supply chain's home. We have to make in America what is now being made in China. We need to accelerate that process.
Source: Speech at the 2023 CPAC Conference in Maryland Mar 2, 2023

JD Vance: GOP used to be okay with trade deals with China; not anymore

Even going back 20-30 years ago, the Republican Party was ok with trade deals and negotiations with China that destroyed the manufacturing base that, by the way, hollowed out our ability to make our own weapons on the national security side and destroyed a lot of good middle-class jobs in state that I came from. We are not doing that anymore. we are the pro-America party, not the pro-China party.
Source: Speech at the 2023 CPAC Conference in Maryland Mar 2, 2023

Vivek Ramaswamy: Ban American companies from doing business with China

Mr. Ramaswamy proposed banning American companies from doing business with China if he is elected as the president of the country in 2024. "The Declaration of Independence of today is our declaration of independence from China. If Thomas Jefferson were alive today, that is the Declaration of Independence he would sign. That is the Declaration of Independence I will sign if I am elected as your next president," Mr. Ramaswamy, 37, said.
Source: Speech at the 2023 CPAC Conference in Maryland Mar 5, 2023

Donald Trump: No other president ever thought of imposing tariffs on China

I also took the strongest-ever action to confront China's illicit trade practices. You see what happened there. Our strategy worked. We have a great relationship with China now. They didn't even respect us. They were taking out $500 billion a year. We had a trade imbalance. So we started charging tariffs. They hit our farmers. I gave the farmers everything that they took out, and the money came from China because it came out of the tariffs. No other President ever thought of it.
Source: Remarks by President Trump at the 2020 CPAC Conference Feb 29, 2020

Donald Trump: Plan to phase out all Chinese imports of essential goods

I will revoke China's most favorite nations trade status. I will have a four-year plan to phase out all Chinese imports of essential goods and gain total independence from China. We have to do it. We have to do it. I will hold China financially accountable for unleashing the China virus upon the world.
Source: Speech at the 2023 CPAC Conference in Maryland Mar 4, 2023

  • The above quotations are from Speeches at Conservative Political Action Conferences (2020s).
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Free Trade.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Donald Trump on Free Trade.
  • Click here for more quotes by Mike Pence on Free Trade.
2016 Presidential contenders on Free Trade:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI) 		Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Jul 15, 2024